Aptar Digital Health, AstraZeneca partner to advance early detection of chronic kidney disease

Partnership aims to boost CKD detection: ©wladimir1804 - stock.adobe.com

Aptar Digital Health announced a new licensing agreement with AstraZeneca to develop and commercialize artificial intelligence algorithms designed to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other related conditions through eye exams.

The AI-driven technology—initially developed by AstraZeneca—analyzes biomarkers from retinal imaging to identify signs of CKD, a condition affecting up to 16% of the global population but often going undiagnosed.

“We are delighted to collaborate with AstraZeneca to progress the development and deployment of an innovative and non-intrusive method to help with earlier identification of CKD,” said Gael Touya, president of Aptar Pharma, in the announcement. “This collaboration enables Aptar Digital Health to broaden its scope in the field of biomarkers and digital diagnostics.”

The algorithms use data from thousands of biomarkers and diagnostic points to enable ophthalmologists to screen for CKD during routine eye exams—a method similar to those used for diabetic retinopathy screening.

“Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most significant global health challenges, with persistently low diagnosis rates,” said Mina Makar, senior vice president of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism at AstraZeneca. “This partnership with Aptar represents an exciting opportunity to drive innovation in chronic kidney disease management.”

A clinical evaluation will follow the development phase to support regulatory clearance and commercial rollout in partnership with pharmaceutical firms, imaging device manufacturers and care delivery organizations.

Background: Innovation in CKD detection and digital diagnostics

The Aptar-AstraZeneca partnership underscores a broader trend in health care: the use of digital tools and AI to transform early disease detection. Chronic kidney disease is often called a “silent” condition because patients typically show no symptoms until later stages. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 90% of Americans with CKD don’t know they have it.

Recent advances in machine learning and digital imaging have created new opportunities to detect systemic diseases—including CKD—through non-invasive scans. For example, a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering in 2023 demonstrated that deep learning models analyzing fundus images could predict kidney function and risk of kidney disease progression with high accuracy.

Beyond eye exams, wearable technology and smart sensors are also playing a growing role in renal care. Companies are exploring continuous monitoring solutions that provide early warning signals through blood chemistry and vitals monitoring.

The combination of digital diagnostics and traditional clinical care could reshape CKD screening, especially in underserved communities. A 2024 pilot program by the UK's National Health Service used AI kidney screening in community eye clinics and found a 30% increase in early-stage CKD detection rates.